NFL's top 25 games of 2024

Wed May 15 2:01pm ET
Field Level Media

Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.

With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes - hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts - Field Level Media's football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.

24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We're grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.

23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn't relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we're eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.

22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we're looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.

21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston's C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer's team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent - and expectations - in Year 1.

20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.

19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There's not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's defense - that of the Ravens - had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald's new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.

18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on "Monday Night Football" is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local - Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal - and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he'll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.

17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he'll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don't discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.

16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It'll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.

15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn't want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.

14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim's 49ers a painful defeat.

13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don't include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon's Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don't look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.

12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they'll get an earlier go at each other on "Monday Night Football" In October, but let's give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He'll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.

11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks - namely Lamar Jackson - might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore's No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens' road wins.

10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love's two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.

9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn't be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?

7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie - 49ers QB Brock Purdy - made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.

6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.

5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.

4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff's bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.

3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.

2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell's temperature more than "at San Francisco." Didn't think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we're guessing you can't read it.

1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.

1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don't forget Joe Burrow, he's more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don't look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren't soon to forget Burrow's boys calling the Chiefs' stadium "Burrow-head" based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 11

Player Notes
Matthew Golden Nov 13 12:50pm CT
Matthew Golden

Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) is practicing again on Thursday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Golden was listed as limited for the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday, and head coach Matt LaFleur said early in the week that the team would ease the 22-year-old back onto the field after a shoulder injury kept him from playing in Monday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. LaFleur also said that the rookie was really close to playing on Monday, which makes it sound like Golden has a pretty good chance of playing in Week 11 versus the New York Giants. The 23rd overall pick back in April out of Texas has plenty of long-term upside, but he's failed to stand out in Green Bay's crowded WR room in his first eight NFL games, catching 23 passes for 262 yards and no touchdowns.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Nov 13 12:40pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) appears to be ramping up his rehab, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Reed is still on Injured Reserve, but he was "working up a sweat" on a side field during Thursday's practice. The Packers have yet to open up Reed's 21-day practice window, but that might not be far off. The 25-year-old former second-rounder is rehabbing from a broken collarbone and a fracture in his foot that has kept him sidelined since Week 2. Despite the long layoff, Reed should become a big part of Green Bay's offense when he's back in the fold. Early in his career, he's proven to have a nose for the end zone, scoring 18 touchdowns (15 receiving, three rushing) in his 35 games (24 starts). The Packers have a crowded wideout room, but Reed, who is currently rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues, deserves to be stashed in fantasy with his return looming.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Nov 13 12:30pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

The New York Jets acquired wide receiver Adonai Mitchell from the Indianapolis Colts at last week's trade deadline in the big deal that sent star cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indy. Mitchell did not make his debut with the Jets in their Week 10 win over the Cleveland Browns, but he should be active on Thursday night when the team takes on the division-rival New England Patriots in primetime. The Jets' passing attack has been the worst in the NFL through 10 weeks, so expectations must be tempered, but there's no denying that the 23-year-old former second-rounder has a big opportunity coming his way. Garrett Wilson (knee) could be heading to Injured Reserve, and Josh Reynolds (hip) is already on IR. In addition to Mitchell, the Jets are looking to the likes of John Metchie III, Tyler Johnson, Arian Smith, and Isaiah Williams to step up. Mitchell is arguably the best athlete of the bunch, making him a watch candidate in fantasy leagues as he prepares to make his Jets debut.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Nov 13 12:30pm CT
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle, ribs) remained in a non-contact jersey during Thursday's practice and is dealing with multiple injuries, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. It's not great news for Buffalo's top receiver, but the good news is that he has been limited on back-to-back days and has a chance to play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, the 25-year-old's status is up in the air, and he could be limited in what he does in Week 11 if he ends up playing. Shakir's injury, in addition to tight end Dalton Kincaid's (hamstring), could make Keon Coleman a much more intriguing flex play this weekend. Coleman has mostly disappointed in his second NFL season, but he did have three catches on eight targets for 46 yards and his third TD of the year last Sunday. His eight targets were the most he's seen since the season opener.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Nov 13 12:20pm CT
C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) was not seen on the practice field on Thursday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Stroud suffered a concussion early in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and was not active in last Sunday's comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old is still in the league's concussion protocol and hasn't practiced this week, so all signs are pointing to him missing a second straight game this weekend against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Stroud was still experiencing some concussion symptoms earlier this week. With a short week coming up next in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football versus the Buffalo Bills, it's possible Stroud could be looking at missing three straight games. Backup Davis Mills surprisingly threw for almost 300 yards against the Jags, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to need to attempt 45 passes against Tennessee.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Nov 13 12:10pm CT
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't played like a 37-year-old in his 17th year in the league in 2025. In fact, he's playing some of the best football of his career and comes into a crucial Week 11 divisional battle against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday on an incredible hot streak. Stafford went 24-for-36 passing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in last week's blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers to reach 400 passing TDs for his career. He not only leads the NFL with 25 passing touchdowns through 10 weeks, but Stafford is on an absolute heater, going 69-for-101 with 13 touchdowns and no picks in his last three games. Fantasy managers who scored Stafford off the waiver wire earlier this year are sitting pretty. However, will he be able to keep the good times rolling on Sunday versus Seattle? The Seahawks' defense is improved, but they are around the middle of the pack in average fantasy points allowed per week to QBs and passing yards allowed per game, so there's absolutely no reason why anyone should be benching the red-hot Stafford this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Nov 13 11:50am CT
Parker Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (hamstring) returned to Thursday's practice after he was listed as a non-participant due to a hamstring injury on Wednesday, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Washington's fantasy stock was on the rise going into the Week 10 loss to the Houston Texans, with rookie first-rounder Travis Hunter (knee) placed on Injured Reserve and Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) ruled out. The 23-year-old pass-catcher responded with two touchdowns (one receiving, one on special teams) on three catches for 33 yards. Thomas could be back this weekend against the Tennessee Titans, but Washington should maintain his role as a starter in Jacksonville's passing attack the rest of the year now that Hunter is officially done for the season. He'll make for a WR4/flex option again on Sunday in a good matchup, and he's definitely developed some solid chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence in his third NFL season.

From RotoBaller

Ollie Gordon II Nov 13 11:50am CT
Ollie Gordon II

Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day on Thursday due to an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 9, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. Gordon's ankle definitely played a part in the team's Week 10 upset win over the Buffalo Bills, as he played on just three offensive snaps and saw only one rushing attempt on the day. Meanwhile, Jaylen Wright played 10 snaps and had five carries as the RB2 behind workhorse back De'Von Achane. Before Gordon's ankle injury, he had been the clear backup to Achane over Wright in 2025, but that script has been flipped with Gordon at less than 100% health. Neither Gordon nor Wright has any standalone fantasy value, with Achane rarely coming off the field. Gordon has 41 rushing attempts in his first NFL season for 119 yards and a touchdown.

From RotoBaller

Ben Sinnott Nov 13 11:40am CT
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott (ankle) has been added to the Week 11 injury report after he was limited in the team's practice on Thursday, according to John Keim of ESPN. Sinnott was a full participant on Wednesday, so with the downgrade, he might be questionable to play this weekend in Madrid, Spain, against the Miami Dolphins. If the 23-year-old can play this Sunday overseas, he could have an elevated workload with Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Luke McCaffrey (collarbone), and Treylon Burks (finger) all ruled out. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't be holding their breath at all, as Sinnott has a mere three receptions (three targets) for 31 yards and one touchdown on the year, and he's unlikely to produce much as long as starting TE Zach Ertz remains healthy.

From RotoBaller

Julian Hill Nov 13 11:40am CT
Julian Hill

Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill (ankle) was limited for the second straight day this week in practice on Thursday, according to Travis Wingfield of MiamiDolphins.com. Hill has not played since suffering an ankle injury in Week 7 and has put in five straight limited practices. The 25-year-old's status remains up in the air for this weekend's game in Madrid, Spain, versus the Washington Commanders. If he misses another game, Greg Dulcich should operate as Miami's top pass-catching tight end for another week with Darren Waller (pectoral) still on Injured Reserve. In general, fantasy managers should avoid Miami's TE situation. Hill, who is in his third year with Miami, had only 10 receptions on 13 targets for 77 yards and no touchdowns in seven games before his ankle injury.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Golden Nov 13 11:30am CT
Matthew Golden

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the team will see how practice goes this week for rookie first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder), but he was "definitely close" to suiting up on Monday Night Football in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. LaFleur indicated that the Packers would ease Golden back into practice this week, and he was officially limited on Wednesday. If the 22-year-old can upgrade to a full participant by Friday, he should be cleared to return to the field for this Sunday's game on the road against the New York Giants. Golden certainly has not lived up to the preseason hype that surrounded him after being the 23rd overall pick in April, especially with Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) out since Week 2. If he returns, he'll be a risky WR4/5 option for fantasy managers. Golden has yet to score in his first eight NFL games.

From RotoBaller

Woody Marks Nov 13 11:20am CT
Woody Marks

Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks looked like the team's lead back in an impressive comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10, handling a season-high 60 offensive snaps and 16 touches. Marks went for 81 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against the Jags. The Texans have used a RB-by-committee approach this year with Marks and Nick Chubb with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still sidelined. Chubb only saw 10 snaps against the Jags, though, his lowest in a game since joining the Texans. It was the first time Marks earned more carries than Chubb (14 to five) in three games and just the second time all year. Fantasy managers with Marks rostered were glad to see it, but it may not be the norm, with offensive coordinator Nick Caley saying the uptick in touches for Marks was "more spontaneous than predetermined," per the Houston Chronicle's Sam Warren. Still, Marks the better upside RB in fantasy, and he could go off again against the Titans this weekend after going for a season-high 17 carries, 69 yards, and a touchdown against them on Sept. 28, also adding four catches for 50 yards and another TD.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Nov 13 11:20am CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin recorded another practice on Thursday as the team gears up for a matchup with the hosting Buffalo Bills this Sunday. Godwin returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity after not having done so since way back in Week 5. While it's unclear what his status was for Thursday's session, it's undoubtedly a step in the right direction. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Bucs hold the veteran out a little bit longer, considering he's barely a year removed from a significant ankle injury. In any case, fantasy managers will want to keep a watchful eye on his designation in Week 11, as Tampa Bay's corps of wideouts is particularly thin. If Godwin is forced to miss another game, teammates Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and Sterling Shepard would again operate in 11 personnel.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Nov 13 11:20am CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch left open the possibility that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) may not make it back to play at all in 2025, according to KNBR. "That's not the intention, the intention is to get Brandon back. We're not there yet, we just gotta get him to a place where we're comfortable opening that window, and see if he can make it back on the field. That is the intention. But we'll see, no absolutes there," Lynch said when asked if there was a scenario in which Aiyuk wouldn't make it back to play this year. The 27-year-old has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list all season after tearing his MCL and ACL in Week 7 of 2024. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team will not open Aiyuk's 21-day practice window this week, either, so he won't make his 2025 debut in Week 11 against the division-rival Cardinals. Fantasy managers still stashing Aiyuk may not want to get their hopes up.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Nov 13 11:10am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) was spotted at practice for the second consecutive day ahead of the team's road clash with the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. Irving hasn't touched the field since a standout performance in Week 4, but the recent string of practices is encouraging. It's unknown if he'll be on track to play in Sunday's outing, though fantasy managers must be relieved to see him practicing in at least a limited capacity. Presumably, he'll likely sit for another week or so as he works back to full strength. If that's the case, it will be another game of backfield mates Rachaad White and Sean Tucker splitting work in his stead. White has led the duo by a wide margin in snaps, but it's worth mentioning that Tucker has garnered more work in the previous two outings.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Nov 13 10:50am CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was ecstatic to be involved early and often in last weekend's loss to the New York Jets, crediting the team's new play-caller with his success. "I think Tommy just put me in a great position to be able to make those plays," Jeudy claimed via Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling. "Yeah, I think that's what it is. I was just in the right position." Head coach Kevin Stefanski indeed relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees ahead of Week 10's outing. For one game, at least, it made an impact, as the sixth-year pro snagged his first touchdown of the campaign while also notching his first appearance with more than five grabs. Jeudy's value is largely tied to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel's output, though things are looking up ahead of their matchup with a recently stingy Baltimore Ravens defense.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Nov 13 10:40am CT
Garrett Wilson

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the New York Jets have not ruled out placing wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) on Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old initially injured his knee back in Week 6, and proceeded to sit for the ensuing two contests before the team's bye week. It appeared he had fully healed, but he reaggravated the injury in the Jets' win over the Cleveland Browns, potentially jeopardizing his availability for the next month of play. If Wilson is out for at least the next four games, it makes sense for the team to act accordingly, particularly given their season is out of reach. Fantasy managers can expect teammates Tyler Johnson, Adonai Mitchell, and Arian Smith to operate the team's corps in the Ohio State product's stead.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Nov 13 10:30am CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins should again benefit from a diminished WR room on Thursday night when his team squares off with the New York Jets. Hollins has posted solid production in two of his last three appearances, and will get another opportunity to do so in Week 11 with teammate Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) set to miss this week's contest. Boutte exited New England's win over Tampa Bay early, and Hollins erupted for his first 100-yard performance since 2022. Quarterback Drake Maye has done well to spread the ball around this season, although Hollins is now officially the room's snap leader and has the best chance at picking up targets vacated by his teammate. He'll be a low-end flex option for his outing with New York.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Nov 13 10:00am CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III has struggled to capitalize on his opportunities in 2025. Through seven games, he's caught 21 of 36 targets for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Despite rumors that Pittsburgh might add another wideout at the trade deadline to complement D.K. Metcalf, no deal materialized, keeping Austin in the WR2 role. However, his Week 10 miscue, a dropped pass that led to an interception, hurt the team and could affect his standing with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With trust being critical in Rodgers' offense, Austin needs to show more consistency and playmaking ability. For now, he holds some fantasy value based on volume alone, but he'll need to step up to remain a reliable option.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Higgins Nov 13 10:00am CT
Jayden Higgins

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins turned in the best performance of his young career in Week 10, catching five of seven targets for 42 yards and a touchdown in the 36-29 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2025 second-round pick has struggled to carve out a consistent role in Houston's offense, often seeing limited snaps behind the team's other outside receivers. However, for just the second time this season, Higgins outsnapped Xavier Hutchinson, who has played 66% of the team's offensive snaps overall. If Higgins continues to earn more playing time, he could emerge as the Texans' WR2 and a sneaky fantasy contributor down the stretch. He'll look to build on his momentum in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller